The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-07
Mr., BROWN 1SrERposEs AN OBSTRUCTION

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Mr.. BROWN IxTERP0SEs AN OBSTRUCTION
The great Chicago drainage scheme al
ter having been licked into some sort 81 en-
durable shape las WAS supposedly ny me
timely Intervention Of the people along the
extended route proposed to be polluted by
the outflow of Chicago sewage, was NOV,
Ing along smoothly in the legislature anu
the threatened district having largely re-
laxed It's vigilance, Chicago was having
pretty much its own way daiiy
j,,roduc,ap new notifications until
the scheme, as in the main assen'eu
TO by the DIRECTORS, was hardy any
LONGER recognizable; when Mr.. Browne,
one ~ the La Sale county representatives.
on Thursday nterposed M obstruction 'hat
brourbt the schemers up standing, From
magnificent ship canal, 2oO feet "iue
and IL feet deep, 10 be fed by pure lake
water. afterwards 10 he used 20 dilute ana
oyydize the Chicago sewage before send
Ing IL this way, the Ilurd bill tembodying
this schene) was supplemented by the
Crafts bill, which instead of contemplating
the plan as whole, proposed TO work II
out piecemeal That is, by way OF be
ginning, a channel was to be opened De
tween the lake and the Chicago river up
Tor down somewhere near Evanston, and
then the Chicago river was to be connected
by one or more channels with the Des
PLANES river and Salt Creek, and in this
fragmentary way temporary relief was to
be obtained, preliminary to the construc-
ton of the big ship canal, which was rele-
gated to the dim, distant future.
Mr.. Browne said this was fraud on the
river people, and If that was the game he
rroposed that before the immense mass OF
Chicago sewag: was hurled this way by so
limited a conduit, 1t should first Gas many
European cities are compelled to do) be
taken up and purified and rendered harm
less on IN entirely practicable and scientific
principle. The amendment he offered was
as follows.
Prorided, That any city or drainage dis
trict taking advantage of this act for drain
age purposes, shall eXpend a sum OF money
equal to 10 per cent. of the amount to be
expended on said drainage system In pur
chasing drainage farm within twenty
miles of Its limits, of not less than 100
.,,l tharann A works with
mechanical strainerg, and remove the solids
from the other sewage, and chemically
treat said solids with sulphate OF alum and
milk of lime and precipitation, and erect
precipitating tanks for said purpose, and
so treat said solids that they can be kept
and used for ferti)izing purposes, and not
be obnoxious. And the commission shall
have power to compel enlargement OF SAID
works as the health and comfort OF the
people along said drain shall require.
Chicago protested against this PROPOSE.
ton AS an outrage. Why, said Mr.. Crafts,
the purchase and equipment of such a
farm would cost $4,000 600, and Chicago
could not think of II. But as Mr.. Browne
proposed to expend in that way but 10 per
cent, of the cost of the balance of the work
much or little of that as might be done
this talk of $4,000 900, of course, is non
sense Anyhow, Mr.. Brown advocated his
plan with such eloquence and force that
the house agreed with him, and his amend
ment was carried by vote of 90 to "a.
OF course Chicago is In des lair over this
result, ana say If this amendment is ad
hered to, all their planning and schemng
and fondly cherished hopes of obtaining
pure water for themselves, to the befoul
ment of the water and atmosphere of half
the rest of the state, must come to nought
IL Is understood, however, that there viii
be no relenting on the part of the river
people until Chicago stops her shammins
and bugllng and concludes to deal fairly
with them. Mr.. Brown has not taken 81
important step without knowing tina
constituents will back him up.